War 'necessary to defend the peace'

George Bush will take on anti-war protesters today by insisting the invasion of Iraq was necessary to "defend the peace".

In a speech at Banqueting House, the US President will argue: "History has shown that there are times when countries must use force to defend peace and to defend values."

President Bush was expected to argue that military action was a
last resort when America was threatened by a combination of international terrorism and rogue states.

Downing Street was meanwhile, heavily downplaying hopes of political breakthroughs on controversies like the US steel tariffs and the treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.

Both issues have been intensely negotiated in the past few months in the hope of having "good news" announcements ready in time for the state visit.

Barely two and a half hours have been set aside for formal talks between the President and Tony Blair, including a working lunch.

The Prime Minister's spokesman said times had changed since leaders relied on face-to-face meetings to strike major agreements. He said that these days they spoke routinely by phone and video link.

One of President Bush's former senior aides today called protests outside Buckingham Palace "deeply shameful".

Former speechwriter David Frum said in an article: "The context of this week's events is that many thousands of British people intend to converge on central London to protest against the overthrow of one of the most murderous dictators of the 20th century - and wave placards calling the American president, who ordered the dictator's overthrow, 'the world's number one terrorist'.

"It is a deeply shameful context."

Meanwhile, London Mayor Ken Livingstone was going ahead with plans to invite anti-war protest leaders to a "peace party" reception at City Hall.